360Interviews: Say Hello to the Producer Of The Year – Major Bangz!

A music producer is a professional who works with recording artists and bands, sound engineers, record labels and marketing teams to oversee all creative and technical aspects of an album.

THANK YOU WIKIPEDIA, but we are not here for that!

You have surely heard of EXECUTIVE PRODUCER/CEO MOGUL MUSIC, AUDIO LAB SCIENTIST/SOUND RESEARCHER, AUDIO SOUND DESIGNER – thank you Twitter – Major Bangz right?? Well, if your answer is No, well, do not bother my friend, LuSea‘s got this on a lockdown as she delves into the life of one of Nigeria’s finest products when it comes to music production.

Disclaimer: Any form of sarcasm, pun and/or grammar error(s) spotted were added on purpose (because I’m a bawse that’s why) to capture your attention and to make sure you weren’t just sifting through it. I hope you enjoy this as much as i did while editing this (whilst remaining faithful to Major Bangz’s responses of course), If not Meh..

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– So, Who are you Mr. Major Bangz and how did all this begin?

The Producer:

– My parents christened me Michael and my production “journey” started when I was in secondary school. At that time, we weren’t introduced to digital music production. We were not gurus or very good on the piano (hey, no parent wanted their kids dabbling into music then), but we had tricks that we could use to make music. After making the beat, we would save it on a diskette then take it to a dj to transfer it to tape.The dream grew much bigger when I got admitted into University of Nigeria Nsukka – UNEC Campus.There I met some chaps and we became friends. They were already ahead of me in the science and art of music production.We learnt from each other (as irsharpeneth iron and cuts away firewood) and we later formed a production team called “Department of Sound”. It comprised of Noizque, BeatOven and myself.Noizque came up the brilliant idea of playing the beats we made for artists instead of just keeping them under our beds and bumping heads to them.It was from there we had the opportunity of meeting Mr Chris who was Waje‘s manager at the time. Long story short, we succeeded in making a record for Waje called “Super Women”. It was an amazing record, an rnb-hip hop type joint. Unfortunately the record was never released due to issues between Waje and the record company.

Iyalode of Awesome:

-Oh? What happ..?

The Producer:

– Don’t ask LuSea, I really have no idea concerning that issue *chuckles*.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– Yeah…roighttt. *yimus*.

Anyways, as a lover of the art(s), I know that inspiration can be derived from every facets of life, even people inspire us, How true is that? What tickles your fancy?

The Producer:

– Well, my artistic/production fantasy is driven by so many factors, my emotions for one – yes, what I’m going through at a particular time has a way of fuelling the work.

Also my production mentors… In hiphop they are a whole lot Just Blaze, Timbaland, Justice League, Swizz Beatz,Rick Rubin,Boi1da, Hit Boy, Cardiak, Neptunes, Noah “40” Shebib, The Incredibles, Ryan Leslie, Rico Love and Kanye West to mention a few. Then producers like Major Lazer, Skrillex, Kill the Noize, Diplo, Swedish House Mafia, Avicii, Hardwell who are well known in the EDM circle just make wanna improve every friggin day.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– What about music? Do you turn up to other tunes as well?

The Producer:

– Absolutely, I listen to every genre of music. No one and Nothing is excluded…I mean every type..even the sound of birds..

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– *blank stare* Oh..?

The Producer:

– *chuckles* Yes, I’m an eclectic listener you see? So, I love every sound no matter how nasty it could be/seem. All sounds are useful, they’re my raw material.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– So, pray tell, how the hell did Tonto happen?

The Producer:

– *chukles…hard* At the time Tonto dropped her greatest hit which blew ever body away…

IyaIode Of Awesome:

– *straight face* #NoBoko…

The Producer:

– …I was signed to Mogul music when I got a call from my CEO and he urged me to make a remix out of the original, it was purely experimental at first. Some people liked it, luckily, Tonto Dike’s management did too ’cause I was called to be informed that my remix was going to be used for the music video, all I had to do was make it even better, straighten out crinkles and make gold out of anything.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– …and we praise the good Lord for that brother.

Poko and things aside, how does it feel to be part of a successful project like the highly acclaimed “No Guts – No Glory”? How was working for/with the Man Of The Year like?

The Producer:

– It feels so great, exhilarating, it’s like completing the first mission while playing a very hard adventure game on my PS4.

Working with Phyno has been a great experience! Massively awesome. For one, there’s great chemistry in our work. I started working with him officially August 2013.My contract with Mogul Music had expired at that time. In 2012, I had already reached out and told him that I wanted to do major production for his upcoming projects. I started making beats for album in April 2013..During a particular period, in which I got really ill, I made the beat for Parcel – sent it to him and that was it.Phyno is an amazing producer/engineer. He knows exactly what he wants to achieve on a track. He is blessed with massive track ideas which is so different from the usual.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– Do you think the social media has helped in giving more visibility to music producers? Are those RTs and Share(s) really working?

The Producer:

– Before now, a lot of artist/producers would send shout outs to radio OAPs and DJ`S on their tracks, now bloggers are included in the mix.

The social media is the reason why the masses talk about producers as much as they talk about the artist.When an artist drops a song some percentage of people will download the track because a well-known producer produced the shiznit.

Hell! Now I’m being interviewed! Next time, I pray I’m producing D’Banj’s next banger instead.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– *shakes her head*

Let’s talk money! How much do you people make off artistes?

The Producer:

– Well, pricing is relative and subjective. Some artists pay 150k to 200k to their producers it varies.. Some producers are signed to artists so that’s a contractual agreement and subject to the terms of the contract.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– So are you on any International artiste’s payroll?

The Producer:

– I pray so o, I will be – If D’Banj decides it’s time to holla at me *giggles*.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– Let the hat out of the cat and tell us what else you’ve got under your sleeves.

The Producer:

– Well, I’ve done a lot of projects, I’ve been recruited to work on Olamide’s Kinging album, Wande Coal, M.I and a few more buns in the oven.

So just watch out.

Iyalode Of Awesome:

– Well, I think I’m done here, did you have fun? I did *looks on with dreamy eyes*

I'm Mrs. Press ►, Lover of Music, NappyHead Extraordinaire, Madame Foodie, Aspiring Polyglot, Iyalode of Awesome and New Member of the Power Rangers.
Now that you know my business you should follow me on Twiha - @LuSeaBee. Bye.